Donnerstag, 21. Januar 2010

Animal welfare advocates in Missouri are taking the effort to end puppy mills directly to voters. They are using a ballot initiative to try to enact a cap on breeding dogs per breeder and improve conditions for the dogs trapped in this business of factory farming dogs. Go here for more information and if you live in MO..., how you can help.

If you don't live in MO, check it out anyway for some ideas for your state! And, pass this on to residents of MO who can help!

By Michael J. Mooney in Breaking News, Crime, Man and Beast, Palm Beach, SportsWed., Jan. 20 2010 @ 9:00AMThumbnail image for greyhound graveyard edit.JPGAuthorities found the bodies of more than 2,000 greyhounds buried on an 18-acre property. Most had gun shot wounds in the head and neck.​A woman arrested on felony charges for helping kill more than 2,000 greyhounds from all over the state has been training racing dogs again in Florida as recently as last week.

Ursula O'Donnell was charged with felony animal cruelty in November 2002 after allegedly hiring an Alabama man to shoot and bury greyhounds under her care.

According to documents obtained by the Juice, O'Donnell allegedly sent dogs from as far away as Palm Beach and Orlando to Robert Rhodes, a security guard at the Pensacola dog track, who told police he shot the greyhounds for about $10 each. When Rhodes died before trial, the case was dropped.

After the jump, more about O'Donnell, what the track did when notified of the investigation, and a photo of the massive greyhound graveyard uncovered just across state lines. (WARNING: The photo is graphic and potentially disturbing.)

When police officers discovered the scene in Baldwin County, Alabama, many were overcome. For more than 20 years, Rhodes crassly (and illegally) disposed of greyhounds that were no longer fast enough to compete on the track by shooting them with a .22-caliber pistol. He told investigators at the time that he always killed the animals with a single shot to the back of the head so "they never knew it was coming." But many of the bodies uncovered on Rhodes' property had been shot in the snout or the neck.

Though O'Donnell denied knowledge of the operation at the time -- she claimed her employees sent dogs to Rhodes without her knowing -- a criminal investigation by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation found a check written by O'Donnell to Rhodes for $230, dated just before Rhodes' arrest. Using Rhodes' standard pricing, that was the fee for the execution of 23 dogs.

This is a picture taken of the greyhound graveyard as it was unearthed.

Alabama greyhound graveyard.JPGFlorida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of pari-mutuel wagering​You'd think such a thing would preclude an individual from working with greyhounds ever again, but as of the start of this year, O'Donnell was listed as the "trainer of record" for Free Spirit Kennel, which races dogs at the Naples-Fort Myers Track and Entertainment Center. That means that O'Donnell is personally responsible for the welfare of 50 to 75 dogs.

Then, around January 10, about the same time the track was notified about a current invesitgation, Ursula was no longer listed as the trainer of record for Free Spirit Kennel.

The Naples track is owned by the Miami-based Havenick family, which also owns Magic City Casino in Miami (formerly the Flagler dog track). Izzy Havenick, vice president of both tracks, told me that as soon as he and his brother learned of O'Donnell's background, they asked the kennel to replace her.

"This was just brought to our attention," Havenick said. "She never worked for us in any way, shape, or form. All of the kennels are owned and operated completely independently. But as soon as we found out, we asked the kennel to make the change, and they did."

Free Spirit Kennel's new trainer of record is Ryan O'Donnell.

Havenick said he never met Ursula or Ryan O'Donnell and doesn't know what their relationship is. "O'Donnell is a very common name in dog racing," Havenick said.

Carey Theil, executive director of Grey2K, the national antiracing lobby, told me the organization is pleased that Ursula O'Donnell will no longer be doing business with these two dog tracks.

"The Havenick family should be applauded for doing the right thing in asking Ursula O'Donnell to step down," Theil said. "We are grateful for their decision. The National Greyhound Association claims that they police their industry effectively, but this incident proves otherwise. The fact that Ursula was allowed to work again in the greyhound racing industry is very troubling."

Havenick says he was as surprised as anyone to hear of Ursula's past, since she was properly licensed with the state. "We would never allow anyone who is even questionably cruel to a dog to be associated with our properties," he said. "If you get a license from the state, we assume the state has checked you out."

He added: "We are dog guys. We love the dogs as much as anyone. We like dogs more than people."

Please help Carmen VeganFight, she IS fight for animal rights, she has given her entire life and every penny she has for the unwanted, unloved, homeless animals and the local government is threatening to remove some of her beloved babies. Please sign this petition, will only take seconds. Please share this as well, Carmen is a hero, one of the top heroes in animal rights, please help her. Thanks!!

My name is Jade and I'm a Pit bull Mutt-i-gree™. I'm only 7 months old and have already been through a traumatic ordeal. Just a short time ago, I was living in a small, overcrowded shelter, and I wasn't sure what was going to happen to me. I was very sick and looked it.

North Shore Animal League America changed my life. They rescued me and placed me in their Help Me Heal Program, which nurses pets back to health. Doctors examined me, people flooded me with attention and affection, and I finally felt safe.

The Animal League doctors diagnosed me with a delicate condition called megaesophagus. My esophagus can not properly move food down into my stomach, causing me to regurgitate. This regurgitation can be very dangerous and even deadly. I can choke on my food and suffocate or I can starve if food doesn't get to my tummy.

Because of this, I need to be upright when I eat. My food has to be soft and I have to remain upright for about 20 minutes after I'm done eating. Staying upright took some getting used to. But the Animal League made me my very own chair - like a baby chair that holds me secure and keeps me as comfortable as possible. Unfortunately though, megaesophagus is permanent, so I will have to have my meals this way for the rest of my life.

I also had a very severe case of pneumonia - so bad that the doctors were afraid I wasn't going to make it. Pneumonia and megaesophagus are a lethal combination. I was so sick; I could barely move. But nobody gave up on me. People sat with me - even when I was sleeping. It was very comforting during a very difficult and confusing time. I'm finally stable but still need to rest and still need to be hospitalized.

If you can believe it, I was also diagnosed with severe demodex infestation, which is a skin disease caused by mites. My skin is bright pink, flakey and I'm very itchy and uncomfortable. Most of my hair has fallen out, but it will grow back when I'm better. Everyone says I'm still beautiful. That makes me happy.

Even though I have all these problems, I'm not worried. I'm getting excellent care at the Animal League. They've already gotten me stable from the pneumonia, have my feedings down to a science, and soon I'll have a healthy coat. But they're not just giving me medical care, they're giving me tons of love…and love is the best medicine in the world. When I'm all better, they'll find a family to love me forever.

It's because of you that the Animal League's Help Me Heal Program is able to take care of me and so many other sick pets. You save our lives.

Harrison County Animal Shelter officials waited for news Wednesday about six dogs and nine cats that were stolen from the shelter over the weekend. Police did not have any suspects.

Debbie Palmer, a volunteer with the shelter, said it appeared the smallest animals in the shelter were taken. On Sunday morning, a part-time worker found several cats loose and cage doors open at the shelter on New Lair Road in Cynthiana. Someone had pried open a window.

"I just hope that they were not taken for bait for dog fighting," Palmer said. "We just can't guess."

The shelter had been looking for homes for the animals.

Palmer said she doesn't think the thieves will try to sell or give the animals away in Harrison County. She said they probably would go to a bigger community.

Cynthiana Police Chief Ray Johnson said the case is under investigation.

Also stolen from the shelter were about 50 bags of dog food, 10 bags of cat food, pet carriers, a digital camera and cases of pet wipes, Palmer said. She said there was only a small amount of canned food left on the shelves.

"We're such a small community," Palmer said. "Why were we picked?"

She said there have been a couple of minor break-ins at the shelter over the years but nothing this significant.

Someone broke into the Cool School For Dogs Puppy Dog Day Care and stole many of the rescue dogs that were being cared for there. There were mostly Dobermans taken and 3 other smaller dogs, in total 13 dogs. Scroll down to see their pictures.

SAN FRANCISCO anyone recognize woman in video taking the dog, dog has tumor.

PLEASE Share this to help bring a dog with a tumor home safe to get the treatment it needs.SAN FRANCISCO, CA NEWS releases video of woman taking the dogrepost from Jennifer Blum VIDEO of woman stealing Jojo! Please forward to everyone you know in the Bay Area, CA! We have to catch this woman!http://www.ktvu.com/video/22278471/index.html

These adorable puppies are urgent. Here is the info from Denise Stinson, ACO. This is a gassing shelter. Please crosspost! Just look at these faces!!!!!!!!!!

Sue

Call Denise the ACO ASAP at 903-348-3122. This is urgent. Please call ASAP.

**Please - before you decide this isn't the dog for you to adopt or rescue, please consider one of these puppies. Denise the ACO at this shelter tells me these are the sweetest most wonderful puppies there. LOVING, SWEET BABIES.

THERE IS NO ADOPTION FEE AND NO FEE TO RESCUE dogs that you see pictured. Please help if you can ... The ACO at this shelter we really love - she so wants to make a difference and save lives. This gal does so much for the animals and yes, she does let us post that it is gassing unlike other shelters that don't want it to be known. She is hopeful this can change in the future. PLEASE HELP! Sulphur Springs is a gassing animal shelter and these cute little puppies are almost out of time. This shelter is a small space based shelter and any kitten, cat, puppy or dog you see posted is considered extremely urgent.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ANYTIME - DENISE THE ACO NEEDS TO FIND A HOME FOR THESE PUPPIES ASAP. VERY URGENT. Call 903-348-3122 anytime this evening, tomorrow, anytime at all. THANK YOU!

HERE ARE 3 GOLDEN RET. / HUSKY MIX PUPPIES ONLY 2 MONTHS OLD. THEY ARE JUST BABIES AND ARE HEALTHY. THEY ARE GOOD WITH OTHER ANIMALS AND KIDS. CAN ANYONE HELP SAVE THEM?

Mittwoch, 20. Januar 2010

UPDATE! CONFIRMED: MANY RACCOONS WERE KILLED ILLEGALLY A FEW DAYS AGO- PLEASE FORWARD IF YOU HAVE TIME. NO NEED TO REPLY TO ME ABOUT THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE INFO.

I received emails from an animal rights org & a NYC Park Ranger confirming the deaths of many raccoons. They said that many raccoons were killed, placed in plastic bags and found by a person in the park several nights ago. The person then called the authorities and the dead raccoons were taken to NYC Dept of Health.

The NYC Dept of Health is admitting to this as well but they are not saying much else. Nine of mine are missing for 4 days now, only saw total of 3 in the park last night. I'd estimate 98% to 99% were killed. It was illegal but animal rights org said it will be impossible to prove that any NYC Depts were involved in killing them. Probably some sleazebag unprofessional pest control & NYC animal control employees were hired by some rich anti-wildlife New Yorkers to do this.

The Humane Society was ineffective at stopping this, I involved them weeks ago. However, they were apparently misled. I have involved another org. because The Humane Society should have realized that they were being duped/misled, they are a BIG professional org. Nine of my group are dead because of this.

Although a serious crime was committed, the story has not been covered by any News stations here- VERY curious. If anyone is an Animal/Wildlife Rights professional here and wants to see the park ranger's email, message me back w/ an email addy.

I will be really busy gathering evidence for this case. IN A NUTSHELL: The NYC DOH lied to the Humane Society. There are at least 10 raccoons missing from my group. I've counted heads almost every night for the past 7 months. Either the NYC DOH is lying or Central Park hired a private pest control service and they killed them after 9:30 PM, after I leave the park every night. Plus a Central Park employee told me that she saw Animal Control which is a Div of NYC Dept of Health take alot of raccoons out of the park several nights ago!!

I got this email from the humane society today:

I don't know what to say! This is very strange. I spoke to Dennis Slate --National Rabies Program Coordinator for the USDA APHIS Wildlife Services Rabies Program -- 2 days ago who assured me that the plan for a Trap Vaccinate and Release program is being formulated and will begin in February. He said that the lethal raccoon trapping plan which I inititially heard about --- and which was mentioned bythe State USDA WS director Martin Looney and seemingly by Sally Slavinski -- has been abandoned and that many meetings since has resulted in a solid and sound plan to do an rabies vaccination plan. He said the only raccoons that would be killed would be any sickly or neurological ones --of which they expected very few-- but the goal is to vaccinate as many as possible. I will confirm with Sally and the Health Commissioner this week. I was happy to hear of the program turnaround and honestly, Dennis Slate is not the kind of person to mislead. His entire Rabies Control Program is based on vaccinating rabies-vector species. I also spoke to Ward Stone NYS Wildlife Pathologist for the DEC and Charles Rupprecht, Rabies Program Coordinator for the CDC -- both felt that a trapping program would be the wrong approach and that a TVR and/or oral vaccination program is the best and proven way to go.Is there any way you can ferret out more solid evidence of trapping? Heresay is hard to confirm!

If you haven't already signed, please do. It's more important now than ever to get more signatures so that we can try to change the barbaric practices of NYC Dept. of Health. Please do NOT message me about this article or the petition but please feel free to forward it. Thank-you.

This article is dedicated to the many Central Park NYC raccoons who were recently killed by NYC Dept of Health.

Unlike Canada, NYC does not allow for an observation period to determine if raccoons suspected of having rabies actually have the disease. Instead, they immediately kill them.

In Jan. 2010, ten Central Park raccoons were killed because one in their vicinity had rabies. According to the NYC Dept of Health website, only one of those raccoons actually had rabies. This means that nine were senselessly and prematurely killed. Raccoons are not "pests", they are as intelligent as monkeys, beautiful and fun to watch. These were fantastic raccoons whom many New Yorkers, animal lovers and tourists enjoyed observing and they did not deserve such a terrible end.

Montreal remains the only Canadian city that has ever had to confront raccoon rabies on its doorstep - it never threatened Toronto or Ottawa before it was eradicated in Ontario in 2005.

Montreal remains the only Canadian city that has ever had to confront raccoon rabies on its doorstep - it never threatened Toronto or Ottawa before it was eradicated in Ontario in 2005.

But three years into Quebec's fight against the virulent rabies strain that in a worst-case scenario could spread from raccoons to dogs and cats and then humans, Quebec's lead scientist on raccoon rabies is expressing guarded optimism.

As a massive summer vaccination campaign draws to a close, Denise Bélanger said Quebec is in a much better position than it was when the fatal rabies virus was first detected in 2006 in southwestern Quebec along the Vermont border.

After an initial spread, the rabies variant carried by raccoons, skunks and foxes has stopped on the east side of the Richelieu River, south of St. Jean sur Richelieu, 40 kilometres south of Montreal, Bélanger said.

That's good news because an immunological barrier is now in place to help protect Montreal and the South Shore, said Bélanger, a Université de Mont-réal professor of veterinary medicine in St. Hyacinthe and chairperson of Quebec's scientific committee on raccoon rabies.

"We are doing everything so it doesn't happen," Bélanger said.

This summer more than a million rabies vaccines were air-dropped or hand-planted over a 9,500-square-kilometre area of southwestern Quebec, including a 10-kilometre-wide band along the St. Lawrence River from Kahnawake to Verchères.

Throughout towns and cities on the South Shore, wildlife control teams of animal technicians and professional trappers employed by the provincial Department of Natural Resources hand-planted 50,000 rabies vaccines, baited and labelled.

The oral vaccine known as Onrab has proved to be between 60 and 85 per cent effective. It was placed twice in urban raccoon habitats - from local parks to garbage dumps, ravines and along rail and hydro-line corridors wrapped in a bait attractive to raccoons.

Then, another 60,000 vaccines were dropped from low-flying helicopters into woods, corn fields and other raccoon hot spots, further strengthening the vaccination's reach on the South Shore.

The hope now, Bélanger said, is that the immunological barrier will hold tight while wildlife biologists, immunologists, veterinarians and provincial and municipal government officials begin work on the next phase.

Starting this fall, Bélanger said, the scientific committee on raccoon rabies will begin mapping Montreal, charting raccoon habitats and identifying high-density locations, places where as many as 100 raccoons live in a one-kilometre-square area.

It's all part of developing an island-wide surveillance plan and emergency response that, she said, could be put into action in Montreal, Longueuil, Sherbrooke or any other city setting.

Quebec may still be six or seven years away from eradicating raccoon rabies, but with each year optimism grows.

So far this year there have been only 26 cases of raccoon rabies - compared with 77 cases last year - and this year's cases are concentrated in a tighter geographical area.

"We are not reinventing the wheel," said Pierre Canac-Marquis of Quebec's Department of Natural Resources, in charge of the raccoon-rabies operations, including the summer vaccination program.

Although raccoon rabies never got within 80 kilometres of Toronto or Ottawa, he said, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Long Island have all had experiences with the disease.

Quebec is learning from the experience of these cities. It's also benefitting from advances in the raccoon-rabies vaccines as well as improved delivery systems, he said.

Last year, close to 60 per cent of raccoons and 50 per cent of skunks that were trapped and given blood tests six weeks after the vaccination campaign proved to be successfully vaccinated.

Right now, he said, an operation is under way on the South Shore to see whether that number has increased. Close to 1,000 raccoons and skunks will be live-trapped over the next several weeks and tested for rabies antibodies.

ccornacchia@thegazette.canwest.com

These are the messages from a trusted friend on care2. She lives there and is every night in this park!

There are many beautiful dogs in urgent need at Floyd County Animal Control in Rome, GA as they are scheduled to die on Wednesday morning, January 20th! There are two cruelty case survivors who have been held for a long time and who are now available for adoption! One is a beautiful Am bulldog and the other is a very little chi! There are two pregnant dogs!Two of the dogs on this post have been starved horribly-​.​.​-​every single bone in each of their bodies is showing!

There are beautiful dogs on this post, both big and little! Fluffy dogs and smooth coated dogs! ALL ARE SWEET AND PRECIOUS AND ALL WILL BE PAST HOLD TIME ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20TH, AND MAY DIE EARLY THAT MORNING!THE SHELTER IS CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY ON MONDAY, WHICH GIVES THESE DOGS LESS CHANCE OF ADOPTION THAN USUAL! RESCUE IS ESSENTIAL IF THESE LIVES ARE TO BE SAVED!

DUE TO THE OVERWHELMING NUMBERS OF ANIMALS ARRIVING EVERY DAY, FLOYD COUNTY AC CANNOT HOLD ANIMALS WHO ARE PAST THEIR HOLD TIME BEYOND BEYOND THE KILL DATE OF JANUARY 20TH!!!!

THE DIRECTOR CAN AND WILL MAKE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS PROTOCOL ONLY IF THERE IS A FIRM RESCUE COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF A RESCUE ON THE APPROVED LIST AT THE SHELTER!

RESCUE OFFERS MUST BE APPROVED PRIOR TO THE START OF EUTHANASIA ON WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 20TH!

IF YOU ARE NOT ON THE LIST OF APPROVED RESCUES AT FLOYD BUT WISH TO SAVE AN ANIMAL WHO WILL DIE ON WEDNESDAYTHERE ARE RESCUES ON THE APPROVED LIST WHO WILL PULL FOR YOU!!!!PLEASE BE PREPARED TO SHARE YOUR RESCUE REFERENCES IF YOU ASK FOR PULL ASSISTANCE.

IF YOU DO NOT KNOW ANY OF THE RESCUES ON THE APPROVED LIST AT THE SHELTER, BUT WISH TO SAVE ANY ANIMAL(S) FROM THE SHELTER, PLEASE EMAIL MARGARET AT mrenowi@yahoo. com (@yahoo.com) and I will forward your request for pull assistance to those who can help you.

PLEASE NOTE: OUT OF STATE RESCUES CAN BE APPROVED TO PULL FROM FLOYD COUNTY AC--THE INFORMATION ON HOW TO BE APPROVED TO PULL FROM FLOYD IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST!

PLEASE LOOK AT THIS LIST AND SEE IF YOU CAN FIND ROOM IN YOUR RESCUE FOR ANY OF THESE DOGS!

I am asking every person who receives this to please post far and wide. It will only be a success if we are able to bring awareness to this mission.We will have media there so it is imperative all goes well and this has an impact to changing the laws in NC via AWARENESS.

On Friday January 22, 2010 Help Save One, Inc will be going to Gaston County shelter in Dallas, NC to clear them out of any urgent dogs. Gaston County is a high volume gassing shelter.

On Friday January 22, 2010 dogs will not be wheeled in a cart to a gas chamber and die a slow death.

On Friday January 22, 2010 there will be at least one day where the black chow, the shy pit bull, the old hound dog, and the tired mixed breed dog will be picked first. For a change, they won’t die.

This is just one day, at one shelter, in one state – but it’s a start.

The inhumane practice of gassing will end. There is no doubt. The question is – when?

Let’s make January 22, 2010 a day where awareness is brought to citizens who may not know this is going on. Their voices can be heard and they can demand their tax dollars not support this barbaric practice. It is also a day people will get to see the beautiful dogs that are thrown away and so horrifically gassed.

Let’s make 2010 the year where this shameful practice is dismantled and we never have to revisit it again.

If you can help with this mission on January 22nd please contact us via Facebook or you can email us directly at marissa@helpsaveone.org or info@helpsaveone.org.

What we need most is offers to help transport, donation of supplies, and monetary donations to help with the vetting and transport expenses.You can read more about the mission at :

Also available on the website is photos of the dogs currently in the shelter that we will be updating in real time. All donations received this week are being placed towards this mission except if you are specifically using a different fund (kittens or Cowboy have their own funds).

Noah is a friendly older gentleman, who is a little shy with people he doesn't know. He arrived at the shelter with his Mother and a dozen brothers and sisters. We found good homes for eleven members of his large family, but he and one brother were never chosen. The shelter has become Noah's home. He lives with his somewhat younger female best friend, Carol. He enjoys treats and extra attention. Noah will soon be 12 years old.

P.S. Noah would like to thank everyone who has sent him special donations. For some reason, he was recently labeled "urgent" and even ended up on Craig's List without the shelter's permission! Noah is interested in being adopted by someone who understand seniors (can Carol come too?) but is otherwise healthy and happy. All donations,however, are greatly needed and appreciated. Noah shares :)Our $50.00 adoption fee includes spay or neuter, microchip, and basic vaccinations. Since we give our own vaccinations, your local laws may require you to have the rabies vaccination re-administered by a licensed veterinarian. If a puppy or kitten is too young to be fixed before it is adopted, the shelter will pay for the surgery when the pet is old enough. All of our dogs are tested for heartworm and receive heartworm preventative. All of our cats are tested for feline leukemia and FIV.

Please call us at (573) 896-4049 for a copy of our adoption application. Thanks for looking at our pets!